Everett f



(No Model.)

B. F. MORSE. FIFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

WITNESSES N. FUCHS. PhMoLiibognphur. Wmhington, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT F. MORSE, OF TRUMANSBURG, N EYV YORK.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,638, dated December 3, 1889. Application iiled geptember 13, 1889. Serial No. 323,832- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT F. MORSE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Tru-,

mansburg, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Running-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to an improved pivotal connection between the front axle and the fixed parts of the gear, and has for its objects to provide two strong and durable bearings for the front axle-one above the bolster or head-block, the other below the axle-and to relieve the king-bolt from lateral strain. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the forward part of a'gear having my improvements attached. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged crosssection through the center of. the axle.

Similar letters refer to similar part-s throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A is the bolster or head-block mounted over the front axle G, and B B are the side bars attached to the ends of said bolster.

O is the perch or reach connecting the parts, as shown, with the rear axle.

n is a metallic bar or plate mounted 011 the wooden bed-piece of the front axle, and has integrally connectedwith it the lower parts of the segmental fifth-wheel w. This bar is securely attached to the axle by clips cl d,

passing over its ends, and clip a, passing over its middle portion. Projecting from this clip a and rigidly attached to it, or preferably integral with it, as shown, the arm m extends upward at one side of and over the headblock or bolster A, and is provided with an eye at its free end. passes through plate h, head-block A, swivelplate 19, and screws into the top of clip a, is supported and has its upper end restrained from moving laterally relatively to the axle by arm m, through the eye in the free end of which the king-bolt passes, and it may be restrained to turn with the axle by fitting snugly into said eye or screwing tightly intothe top of clip a.

The king-bolt g, which- Bearing-plate h, having a cylindrical hole through its center of suitable size and length to form a durable bearing for the king-bolt, is securely bolted to the top of the head-block A and lies between it and arm m. The top of clip or provides a bearing for the central part of the head-block, and the segmental fifth-wheelw provides supports in the usual manner on either side of the center. The lower portion of the king-bolt g, having been relieved by arm m of lateral strains, may be made as small as the requisite tensile strength will admit, and thereby necessitate cutting away and weakening the bolster very little for its passage. The portion extending through arm m and plate h is enlarged to provide a more durable bearing. By this arrangement a very firm bearing is provided 7c above the bolster for supporting the axle. The lower bearing, which is of the usual design, is below the axle, and consists of a conical arm 0, projecting integrally from the clip-bar s, and the journal I), made to fit this arm and retained in its position thereon by nut e, is shown to be supported by the usual perch cf, connecting it with the rear axle; but

it can be equally well supported from the. side bars by suitable connections therewith.

While I have shown my invention as applied to a side-bar wagon with simply a bol ster interposed between the axle and the end of arm on, it is obvious that it is equally applicable to other styles of gears where a spring or other parts are mounted over the front axle, and may be interposed between this axle and the end of arm m.

With my improved device the axle can be detached from the gear by simply removing c the king-bolt g and bearing 1). The axle is then free to be removed laterally from the ear.

b What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vehicle, the combination, with the axle and bolster or head-block, of two arms rigidly attached to the central part of the axle, one of said arms extending downward from said axle and forming the lower jour- 10o nal on which the axle turns, the other extending upward at one side of and over said bolster or head-block, where its free end is connected with and supports relatively to the axle the upper journal on which said axle turns, and two bearings securely connected to the fixed parts of the gear, one adapted 'to receive and support said lower journal-arm, the other arranged above the bolster or headblock and adapted to receive and support said upperjournal, substantially as described.

2. In a'vehicle, the combination, with the front axle and bolster or head-block, of two arms rigidly attached to the central part of said axle, one of said arms extending downward from the axle and forming the lower journal on which it turns, the other extending upward at one side of and over said bolster or head-block and provided with an eye at its upper end, a journal-bolt inserted from above and extending through said eye,and a bearing rigidly attached to said bolster or Witnesses:

SANFORD C. CONDE, W. P. BIGGS.

EVERETT F. MORSE. 

